标签： North America

In a landmark political realignment, Democrat Eileen Higgins has secured victory in Miami’s mayoral election, marking the first time in nearly three decades that a candidate from her party has captured this influential position. The former county commissioner decisively won the runoff election with 59% of the vote, overcoming Republican challenger Emilio Gonzalez who garnered approximately 41% despite receiving endorsements from both former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Addressing jubilant supporters at her victory celebration, Higgins proclaimed that ‘Miami chose a new direction… you chose competence over chaos.’ Her triumph not only breaks a 30-year Republican stronghold but also establishes her as the first woman ever elected to the mayoral office in Miami’s history, according to US media reports.

The 61-year-old mayor-elect framed her victory as ‘the beginning of the work ahead,’ pledging to confront pressing urban challenges including immigration policy and affordable housing shortages. Higgins emphasized her commitment to leading ‘a city that belongs to everyone’ while drawing sharp contrasts with Trump’s governance approach. In recent interviews, she characterized the former president’s immigration enforcement tactics as ‘inhumane and cruel,’ though she expressed willingness to collaborate with the administration on areas of common interest.

Despite the officially non-partisan nature of the race, Higgins garnered support from prominent Democratic figures including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Her victory extends a pattern of Democratic successes in recent elections, following significant wins in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey during the initial months of Trump’s second term.

Higgins succeeds outgoing Republican mayor Francis Suarez, who previously mounted a brief campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. This political transition occurs against the backdrop of evolving urban politics in traditionally conservative strongholds, signaling potential shifts in voter priorities regarding municipal leadership and national political alignment.

The United States Space Force has announced that its ambitious Golden Dome missile defense initiative will reach initial operational capability by summer 2028. The revelation came from Space Force General Michael Guetlein, head of the Golden Dome program, during the Reagan National Defense Forum.

Conceived as a comprehensive expansion of existing missile defense capabilities, Golden Dome aims to transform limited regional protection into a nationwide shield against advanced threats including ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles, drones, and fractional orbital bombardment systems (FOBS). The system will integrate a sophisticated network of space-based interceptors, advanced sensors, data-transfer satellites, and command-and-control infrastructure.

While program details remain largely classified, General Guetlein confirmed that contracts have already been awarded to industry partners for interceptors and software architecture. He acknowledged the program’s significant complexity and risks but expressed confidence in what he termed a “solid plan” for implementation.

The monumental project faces substantial financial hurdles, with estimated costs reaching hundreds of billions of dollars. Funding uncertainty persists amid inflationary pressures and competing defense priorities including nuclear modernization and naval expansion. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted a historic $156 billion budget increase scheduled for 2026, but long-term financial planning remains unsettled.

Strategic justification for the program emerges from growing concerns about advanced missile threats. The US Defense Intelligence Agency’s 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment highlights North Korea’s operational intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the continental United States, alongside developing systems like the Haeil nuclear torpedo. Similarly, China and Russia are expanding their missile inventories with sophisticated systems including FOBS and nuclear-powered superweapons designed to circumvent existing US defenses.

A January 2025 Atlantic Council report co-authored by Robert Soofer argues that current US missile defense policy—relying primarily on nuclear deterrence for major powers while maintaining limited protection against rogue states—no longer aligns with reality. The recently published 2025 US National Security Strategy emphasizes the urgency of bolstering missile defenses, framing Golden Dome as essential for protecting the American homeland, overseas assets, and allies.

Technical feasibility remains hotly contested. The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation describes Golden Dome’s envisioned architecture as requiring unprecedented advances in sensing technology, battle management, and interceptor performance. A February 2025 American Physical Society report presents stark counterarguments, suggesting strategic missile defense—particularly space-based systems—remains technically and economically unfeasible. The APS estimates costs could reach $180 billion for deployment alone, with long-term sustainment potentially pushing expenditures into the trillion-dollar range.

Proponents like Christopher Stone of the Global Security Review argue that technological skepticism overlooks existing capabilities and the urgent strategic reality. Stone contends that many required sensors and interceptors already exist in current programs or are orbiting, and that vulnerability to advanced missile threats is no longer acceptable.

The program’s ultimate implementation will depend on whether US leadership determines that the risks of inaction outweigh the substantial technological and financial challenges of constructing an unprecedented defensive shield.

President Donald Trump launched a campaign-style rally in Pennsylvania’s pivotal swing state, asserting that consumer prices are experiencing a “tremendous” decline despite persistent public concerns about affordability. Addressing supporters at a casino venue, the president declared having “no higher priority than making America affordable again” while dismissing cost-of-living anxieties as a Democratic “hoax.”

The administration’s recent policy maneuvers include eliminating tariffs on numerous food products, promoting Trump-branded retirement accounts for children, and rolling back fuel efficiency standards as part of its economic messaging strategy. In a newly released Politico interview excerpt, Trump awarded the economy an “A plus-plus-plus-plus-plus” grade—a sentiment partially reflected in his recent three-point approval rating increase to 41% in Reuters/Ipsos polling.

Nevertheless, economic data reveals a complex landscape: November recorded the lowest consumer confidence levels since spring, while inflation persists at 3%—above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target despite being significantly lower than the 9.1% peak during the Biden administration. Overall prices have surged 25% over five years, generating widespread frustration that outweighs wage growth for many Americans.

Personal narratives underscore this economic tension. Alaina Hunt, a 37-year-old Oklahoma City designer, lost her job in April partly due to Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, and after 75 unsuccessful job applications, she now struggles with $25 weekly increases in grocery bills. Similarly, Beth Richardson from Kansas expressed shock at nearly $5 purchases of Mentos gum after losing her sales support job in late 2023.

Despite these challenges, certain Trump supporters maintain allegiance. John Mohring, a Wisconsin construction worker, acknowledges persistent grocery inflation but continues supporting the president’s tariff and border policies. Illinois soybean farmer Brad Smith, though initially harmed by China’s purchase freeze during trade tensions, recognizes market recovery since October’s bilateral agreement and backs Trump’s “America First” economic vision.

The Pennsylvania event initiates a series of rallies designed to bolster Republican prospects amid Democratic successes in recent off-cycle elections that capitalized on economic vulnerabilities.

Former President Donald Trump has significantly amplified his rhetoric regarding economic affordability, positioning it as a central theme in his political discourse. In recent public addresses and campaign appearances, he has systematically attributed ongoing economic difficulties to Democratic policies, creating a clear partisan narrative around financial pressures facing American households.

The escalation of this economic messaging strategy represents a calculated shift in Trump’s communication approach, moving beyond general criticism to specific focus on daily living expenses. His commentary frequently highlights inflation, housing costs, and consumer goods pricing as evidence of Democratic mishandling of the economy.

BBC White House correspondent Bernd Debusmann, who has been monitoring this development, notes the strategic timing of this intensified focus. The renewed emphasis on economic issues coincides with increasing voter concerns about purchasing power and financial stability, suggesting an effort to capitalize on these anxieties for political advantage.

The former president’s narrative framework presents a cause-and-effect relationship between Democratic governance and economic challenges, despite the complex, multifactorial nature of global economic conditions. This simplified economic messaging allows for direct, emotionally resonant appeals to voters experiencing financial strain, potentially influencing electoral dynamics as economic concerns remain at the forefront of public discourse.

President Donald Trump is escalating his economic messaging campaign with a Tuesday rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, as polling indicates declining public trust in his administration’s economic stewardship. The event comes amid Republican anxieties about the 2026 midterm elections following Democratic gains in November contests where affordability concerns proved decisive.

The President’s Pennsylvania appearance represents a strategic effort to reframe the economic narrative after acknowledging that rising prices contributed to disappointing Republican performances in recent elections. Trump has consistently attributed ongoing economic challenges to his predecessor Joe Biden, asserting at a White House briefing Monday that ‘Democrats caused the affordability problem and we’re the ones that are fixing it.’

Recent economic indicators present a complex picture. September data revealed U.S. inflation reached 3% for the first time since January, while consumer confidence plummeted to its lowest level since April. Polling from Politico and CBS News/YouGov suggests significant voter unease, with half of all respondents describing the current cost of living as the worst in their lifetimes, and Trump’s economic approval rating dropping 15 points since March.

The administration is responding with policy measures and rhetorical offensive. A source familiar with Tuesday’s event indicated Trump will highlight efforts to reduce costs for gasoline and groceries, while a White House official previewed messaging that will frame the president’s tariffs and regulatory reductions as part of a comprehensive economic ‘rewiring.’

This Pennsylvania visit carries particular significance as it occurs in the state’s 8th Congressional District, a Republican-held seat won narrowly in 2024 that has emerged as a key battleground for the upcoming midterms. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who managed Trump’s presidential campaign, indicated this rally will inaugurate an aggressive campaign schedule reminiscent of the 2024 election cycle.

The administration points to several policy achievements as evidence of their economic approach, including prescription drug pricing agreements, eased fuel efficiency standards, tax cut extensions, and the recently signed ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ Monday also saw the announcement of a $12 billion farm aid package targeting agricultural sectors affected by low crop prices and tariff impacts.

Democratic leaders are mounting coordinated counter-messaging. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro told media ahead of Trump’s visit that ‘folks can’t unsee what they see when they go to the grocery store,’ citing specific price increases for beef, orange juice, and bread under Trump’s administration.

Economic experts note the complexity of presidential influence on food pricing. Food economics professor David Ortega recently noted that ‘the president of the United States has very little control over the price of food, especially in the short term,’ while acknowledging that Trump’s policies—including tariffs on Brazilian coffee and immigration crackdowns affecting farm labor—may be contributing to specific price increases.